The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Property Management section of the Right of Way Office is responsible for the sale and disposition of SCDOT’s surplus real property, including property improvements. This includes maintaining an inventory of surplus property and records of surplus property dispositions.

A parcel of land is considered to be “surplus property” if SCDOT’s engineering sections determine that the property is no longer necessary for the proper operation of SCDOT or the highway systems and SCDOT’s Commission approves of its disposal.

Types of Property:

Economic Parcels - parcels large enough to be developed, are free standing, have access, have monetary value, and comply with local zoning ordinances.

Uneconomic Parcels - properties too small to develop and limited or no access. These properties typically have a market limited to the adjoining landowners.

Improvements - structures located within the right of way that need to be moved: i.e. houses, mobile homes, fences, storage buildings, etc.

Conveyances:

Surplus property owned by SCDOT is conveyed by a quitclaim deed. The quitclaim deed is signed by the Secretary of Transportation and the Deputy Secretary for Finance & Administration. All costs associated with the transaction are the responsibility of the purchaser. The quitclaim deed is recorded with the appropriate county Register of Deeds office.

Improvements are conveyed by a Bill of Sale.

Leases:

Property owned by SCDOT in fee simple and utilized by SCDOT for highway purposes, but with compatible uses pursuant to a Lease Agreement.

Payment:

Payment for surplus property and the recording fees are to be made by certified check or by electronic transfer of funds to SCDOT. All certified checks are to be made payable to SCDOT.